Protown Properties

With 500+ properties located throughout greater Joliet, IL, Protown
Properties needs the best tools to ensure efficiency. When Kim Pierce of
family-owned Protown was looking for a new business software solution,
finding a provider that understood the specific needs of the rental
property industry was, therefore, a critical consideration.

Pierce of Protown explains: “Other systems we reviewed were not geared to
a rental property business. What we saw were basically accounts receivable
tools. A rental business is much more than that – and with their years of
expertise, DIY understands that.

“We were looking for a system that we could tweak to meet our needs. We
wanted the ability to easily manage late fees, due dates, and the like,
and DIY accommodates that. A major wish list item was the ability to print
five-day notices from the system. Again, DIY was able to support our
processes. In the end, we are significantly more efficient because DIY has
built its features around the needs of our industry,” affirms Pierce.

Web access with control over data also helps Protown be successful. Says
Pierce, “A web-based system fits perfectly because all of our employees
can access the system and data from anywhere. Access from any Internet
connection has worked out great; it definitely saves time. The different
levels of user access have also been helpful. We can limit access to
viewing information only. It is much easier to control the data this way
and ensure data integrity.”

“Another real bonus is that DIY maintains the system,” she says. “I do not
worry about updates, patches, or backups. DIY understands that small
companies do not always have IT departments, and with DIY, no technical
experts are required. That’s great news for rental property owners.
“It's a relief to know our data is safe, and always available,” says
Pierce, “and that DIY will be there to take care of it, so we can focus on
our business.”

Pierce also appreciates DIY’s pricing model. “Some other systems charged a
per user license, DIY does not. Budget is always a concern, so this is a
huge plus,” she says. “In addition, it was a selling point to us that many
extra features are available but not mandatory. As our business grows, we
can add more features as time and budget allow.

“Further, and again with budget in mind, DIY includes support in the
monthly fee. Training is not necessary, you can teach yourself, and the
DIY support team is extremely helpful. Their great customer service
clearly adds value,” she says. “We took advantage of the free trial offer,
and during that time I realized how user friendly the system is,” says
Pierce, who’s been using DIY for nearly two years. “Now we have easy
access to efficiency tools, features geared to our business, and great
service standing behind it.”